Self leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus



A 25, 1959 I c. a LARSEN 2,901,306

SELF LEVELING, STORING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1954 as ea .FIG.I

3 INVENTOR- CARL H. LARSEN ATTORNEY v SELF LEVELING, STORING AND DISPENSING APlARATUS Carl H. Larsen, Brooklyn, N.Y., assiguor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 23, 1954, Serial No. 477,281

14 Claims. (Cl. 312-71) This invention relates to self leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus of the type wherein the top of the material stored in the apparatus maintains itself automatically at a constant level regardless of whether material is added to or removed from the apparatus.

Experience has shown that self-leveling, tube-type dispensers now in use have had certain disadvantages which the present invention overcomes. For example, they are sometimes noisier in operation, the dishes or carrier sometimes becomes jammed, either due to the spring rotation or the twisting and tangling of the retaining chain and/or cable.

It has been found that when a carrier as shown in U.S. Patent 2,426,995, rises or descends it rotates and in doing this some of the dishes at the upper end of the stack are retarded from rotating by their engagement with the sides of the dispenser housing. This is especially true if the sides of the dispenser are slightly distorted or out of alignment, or if dishes are not perfectly round or perfectly sized. When this occurs the stack of dishes tends to twist similarly to the twisting of a rubber band or screw, which increases the frictional force exerted on the sides of the dispenser by the dishes and thus the stacked contents are not positioned at the proper level.

It has also been found that when a chain or cable is used in a dispenser, such as shown in U.S. Patent 2,226,308, granted to William G. Gibbs on December 24, 1940, the chain sometimes becomes knotted or entangled and thereby prevents the carrier from rising to its proper height.

This, it will be appreciated, can be very serious, be cause if removal of material is continued from the apparatus while the carrier is held, considerable spring pressure is stored in the spring which is not counterbalanced by the weight of material remaining on top of the spring,

so that if the tangled cable or frictionally held load should suddenly become released, the carrier and the material stored thereon will be hurled upwardly and could cause injury to the contents or to personnel.

In other tube-type dispensers, having the lower end of the spring adjustable, the rotating spring would change the position of the top layer of material, which was objectionable.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus which is quiet in operation, even when the last layer of material is suddenly removed from the apparatus and the carrier quickly rises to the upper limit of its travel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfleveling, storing and dispensing apparatus wherein the side walls are of such design that they are supported 'against distortion and misalignment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a selfleveling, storing and dispensing apparatus wherein the bottom of the compression spring is supported so that it is free to rotate on a ball-bearing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottom atent "ice support for the compression spring which will allow the lower end of the spring to readily rotate while preventing the lower end of the spring from ascending or descending.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for preventing the carrier from rotating as it moves up and down.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flange at the lower end of the carrier which will prevent the lower end of the side walls from becoming damaged due to ordinary wear in maintaining and cleaning the self-leveling dispenser.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the .accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved self-leveling dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a plan of my self-leveling dispenser taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is a bottom view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a portion of the lower end of the cylindrical dispenser housing and the means for detachably securing the bottom cover.

The embodiment I have used to illustrate the invention consists of a tubular housing 10 having a flange 12 formed at the upper end thereof which is: adapted to be seated on the top of a counter 14. If desired, a suitable jrecess 16 can be formed in th'ecounter to receive the flange 12 to thereby enable the self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus to be flush with the top of the counter. The vertical side wall of the housing 10 has vertically extending crimps or rib channels 18 formed therein. At the upper end of each of the channels 18, in between the downwardly extending collar 20 and the channel 18 is a shock absorbing cushion 22. A skirted material carrier 24 is mounted for free vertical movement inside of the housing 10 and has projecting from the skirt thereof laterally extending pins 25 which ex- 'tend into each of the vertical channels 18 and move freely up and down inside of said channel portions.

Secured to the underside of the carrier 24 is a spring support 26. This spring support 26 may be secured to the carrier in any suitable manner and I have shown how this may be done by means of a conventional bolt and nut 28. The upper end of a calibrated compression spring '30 is threaded through holes 32 formed in the spring support 26. l

The calibrated spring 30 is of such design that when material of a certain weight and thickness is placed on :or removed from the top of the material on the carrier platform 24, the counterbalancing spring 30 will .is formed in the center of spring support 34 which is seated around the turned down upper end 40 of the threaded bearing 42.

The bearing 42 is provided with an annular groove 44 which supports and confines a plurality of steel balls 46 in a similar manner to the race in a ball hearing. The bottom side of the spring support 34 rests on top of the balls 46 and constitutes the upper race of the baH bearing and is held in rotatable contact with the same by means of a suitable retaining ring 48 which is seated in a suitable groove formed in the'upper stepped=down end 40 of the bearing 42.- It will thu'sbe apparent that the spring support 84' is free to rotate horizontally on the balls 46 of the bearing 42, and the spring support 34 is prevented from moving away from the bearing 42 by means of the retainer ring 48; t

It will also be noted that the balls 46 are confined in the annular groove 44 between the spring support 34 and bearing 42. The lower portion of the latter is also provided with a'number of pins 41 projecting laterally from said hearing and engaging with their free ends the vertical channels 18 in a similar fashion as pins 25. i

The center or heeriagda has a threaded here which is engaged With arotatable thieidd adjusting shaft 50. The pins 41, radiall'} eiktending from hearing 42-, move up and down in the vertical channels is when the shaft 50 is retated. It will thus be clear that when the shaft 50 is rotated the hearing 42 is preven ed from rotating with the shaft and only the bearing 42 is caused to ride upor down, depending upon thedirection shaft 50 is rotated.

The shaft 50 at its lower portion is provided with a turned down stem 52 which carries a flange 54 resting on top of the bottom housing cover 56. The bottom housing cover 56 has a hole 58 formed in the center thereof I adjusting knob 62 the lower tr ce 4'2 may be adjusted up and down to position the -tio'p of the-material with respect to the top of said hou ing. v

The bottom cover 56 is of a diameter" which permits its side walls 64 to fit snugly inside of the lower end of the cylindrical housing 10. The bottom coverplate is held in engagement with the eylindrical housing by means of a plurality of button head pins or studs 63 extending radial- 1y from the periphery of side wall 64 of cover 56 and engaging with bayonet type slots 65 provided in the lower end of the cylindrical housing 10' (Fig. 4). The bottom coverplate is also piovided with holes 66 through which ventilation can be had and also with a flange 68 which extends over the bottom edge of the housing 10 to protect the housing from becoming battered, as tends to occur when the unit is being dismantled and cleaned.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the cylindrical tube structure has been strengthened by means of longitudinally extending channels which not only support the tube against distortion but also provide guides for the pins 25 and 41. When the carrier platform travels up and down in the cylindrical housing 10 it does not rotate because of the engagement of the pins 25 with their respective guide tracks. When the carrier reaches its uppermost limit of travel the pins 25 engage with the rub ber bumpers 22 which makes for a very quiet dispensing device. Even though the carrier 26 is prevented from rotating, there is no binding action because the lower end of the spring resting in the spring support 34 is free to rotate on the balls 46 of bearing '42.

A washer 51 is secured to the top of the shaft by The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing, vertically extending rib channels formed in said housing, a material supporting carrier mounted for up and down movement inside of said housing, radially extending arms extending from said carrier and coacting with said rib channels to prevent said carrier from rotating, a spring support mounted at the lower end of said tubular housing, a calibrated spring interposed between said carrier and said spring support, and means positioned under the lower end of said spring support to permit the spring support to rotate as said carrier moves up and down.

2. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus having the features provided for in claim 1 wherein stops are formed at the upper end of said rib channels to limit the upward ascent of said carrier.

3. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus having the features provided in claim 1 wherein shockabsorbing cushions are formed at the upper ends of said rib channels for absorbing the shock of said radially extending arms striking said cushions when the carrier rises to its uppermost limit of travel.

4. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing, a material supporting carrier mounted for up and down movement inside of said housing, means for maintaining said carrier free from rotation as it moves up and down in said housing, a spring support mounted at the lower end of said tubula'r housing, a calibrated spring interposed between said material supporting carrier and said spring support for counterbalancing material placed on said carrier to maintain the top of said material at a constant elevation with respect to the top of said housing, and a non-rotating, ball-bearing support waiting with said spring support to allow said spring support to rotate as said carrier moves up and down.

5. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus having the features provided for in claim 4 wherein said ball-bearing support is connected to an elevating device to adjust the distance the top of said material extends above the top of said housing.

6. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing, a carrier mounted for free up and down movement inside of said housing, arms radially extending from said carrier and coacting with vertically extending tracks for maintaining said carrier free from rotation, and a ball-bearing spring support comprising a lower race, means for maintaining said race free from rotation, an upper race supporting the lower end of said calibrated compression spring, and balls interposed between said lower race and said upper race to permit said upper race to rotate freely.

7. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus having the features provided for in claim 6 wherein radial arms are mounted on the lower race and vertically extending guides coact with said arms to restrict said arms to up and down travel.

8. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus having the features provided for in claim 7 wherein means are provided for lowering and raising said lower race to set the distance the top of said stacked material extends above the top of said self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus. a

9. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing, a skirted material supporting carrier mounted for up and down movement inside of said housing, a spring support'positioned at the lower end of said housing, means for maintaining said carrier free from rotation as it moves up and down in said housing, a calibrated counter-balancing spring interposed between said material supporting carrier and said spring support to maintain the top of said material at a constant level, friction free bearing means positioned under said spring support to allow said spring support to rotate as the carrier is moved up and down in said housing a cover adapted to fit inside of the lower end of said tubular housing, said cover having flanges extending substantially around and covering the lower end of said tubular housing, and a bayonet fastening device for securing said cover to the lower end of said tubular housing.

10. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing, a material supporting carrier mounted for free movement up and down in said housing, means for maintaining said carrier free from rotation, a calibrated counterbalancing compression spring mounted in said housing and engaging at its upper end with said carrier to automatically raise and lower said carrier a distance correlated with the amount of weight supported thereon to maintain the top of the material at a constant level, and antifriction means connecting the lower end of said spring to the bottom of said housing to permit the lower end of said spring to freely rotate as said spring undergoes compression and extension.

11.A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing, a material supporting carrier mounted for free up and down movement in said housing, means preventing said carrier from rotating as it moves up and down in said housing, a calibrated com pression spring mounted in said housing and engaging at its upper end with said carrier to automatically raise and lower said carrier at distance correlated with the amount of weight supported thereon to maintain the top of said material at a constant level, and antifriction means connecting the lower end of said spring with the lower end of said housing to permit the lower end of said spring to freely rotate as it undergoes extension and compression.

12. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing a material supporting carrier mounted for up and down movement in said housing, guides extending up and down in said housing, guide followers extending :from said carrier for tracking in said guides to maintain said carrier free from turning as said carrier moves up and down in said housing, a calibrated compression spring mounted in said housing and engaging at its upper end with said carrier to automatically raise and lower said carrier a distance correlated with the amount of weight supported thereon to maintain the top of the material supported thereon at a constant level,

6 and antifriction means connecting the lower end of said spring with the lower end of said housing to permit the lower end of said spring to freely rotate as it undergoes extension and compression.

13. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing having vertically extending rib channels formed therein, a material supporting carrier mounted for free up and down movement in said housing, arms extending from said carrier and coacting with said rib channels to maintain said carrier free from turning as the carrier moves up and down in said housing, a calibrated compression spring mounted in said housing and engaging at its upper end with said carrier to automatically raise and lower said carrier a distance correlated with the amount of weight supported thereon to maintain the top of said material at a constant level, and means supporting the lower end of said spring to allow the lower end of the spring to have free rotary movement as the spring undergoes extension and compression.

14. A self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus comprising a tubular housing, vertically extending guideways associated with said housing, a material supporting carrier mounted for free travel up and down inside of said housing, arms extending radially from said carrier and coaoting with said vertically extending guide- Ways to maintain said carrier free from rotation as it travels up and down inside of said housing, a calibrated compression spring mounted in said housing under said carrier to automatically raise and lower said carrier a distance correlated with the amount of weight supported thereon to maintain the top of the material supported thereon at a constant level, and antifriction means allowing the lower end of said spring to rotate freely while simultaneously maintaining the lower end of said spring free from vertical movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 279,267 Nook June 12, 1883 807,000 Southworth Dec. 12, 1905 873,850 Ellis Dec. 17, 1907 979,068 Gibbs Dec, 20, 1910 1,025,388 Finnell May 7, 1912 1,878,354 Wessman Sept, 20, 1932 2,226,308 Gibbs Dec. 24, 1940 2,251,876 Gibbs Aug. 5, 1941 2,422,350 Gross June 17, 1947 2,426,995 Gibbs Sept. 9, 1947 2,609,265 Larsen Sept. 2, 1952 2,717,085 Waddington Sept. 6, 1955 

